Signature buildings often inefficient

The Middle East's signature buildings often lack efficiency, said Simon Green, general manager, Schiavello in a recent interview with facilities management Middle East.

"Sometimes the visual is much stronger here than anywhere else. Everybody is trying to do signature building with their development and that's what the developer is about," he explained.

And although aesthetically pleasing on the eye, Green argues that iconic buildings cost the owner or tenant more money due to inefficiencies. He cited
the Emirates Towers in Dubai as an example.

"Because of their shape, you get all these odd areas that you can't do anything with. That building is 60% efficient. People are paying 100% rent and only getting 60% efficiency out of it," he claimed.

A building he commended for its high efficiency is Festival Towers in Dubai Festival City. "The building is fairly rijid but it's still a nice building to look at. It has an efficiency level of around 85%."

Simon Townsend, Middle East director, CB Richard Ellis, agrees and said: "Developers use the word iconic, but very few like the words functional and practical. That's a difference that must come into this market.

"Dubai's commercial buildings are impressively designed on the outside, but often lack the interior functionality that potential tenants require.

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